Concrete aggregate feeder having a measuring rotor and an adjustable feed hopper



May 1, 1951 R R coLBURN 2,550,781

CONCRETE AGGREGTEFEEDER HAVING A MEASURING ROTOR AND AN ADJUSTABLE FEEDHOPPER Filed Dec. 9, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l 29 3%'3 INVENTOR.

7/5 i. BY I May 1, 1951 R. RCOLBURN 2,550,781

CONCRETE AGGREGATE FEEDER HAVING A MEAsuRTNG RoToR AND AN ADJUSTABLEFEED HoPPER Filed Deo. 9, 1946 s sheets-sheet 2 R. R. coLBURN 2,550,781CONCRETE AGGREGATE FEEDER HAVING A MEAsuRING RoToE AND AN ADJUSTABLEFEED HoPPEE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 May l, 1951 Filed Dec. 9, 1946 IIIII' O azD ' INVENTR. E ffl wg'aw YFO/ENEPS.

Patented May Y1, 1951 CONCRETE AGGREGATE FEEDER HAVING A MEASURING RO'ERAND N\ADJUST ABLE FEED HOPPER Richard R. ColburmtWaterloo, IowaApplication December 9, 1946, Serial No. 715,045

8 Ciaims.

The invention relates generally to improvements in the construction andoperation of mechanism for continuously measuring successive batches ofrelatively dry and line concrete aggregate, and for transporting thesame in the form of a uniform stream to places of utilization, with ltheaid of compressed air or the like; and relates more specifically tovarious improvements in ap paratus of the type disclosed inmy priorpatents No. 2,299,565, granted October 20, 1942, and No. 27,413,293,granted December 31, 1946.

As shown and described in said prior application and patent, I haveheretofore proposed the production of a dry concrete aggregate feederhaving a revolving material measuring rotor provided with an annularseries of upright pockets successively communicable at their upper endswith a bulk aggregate supply hopper, and at their lower ends withanother revolving rotor having incrementbatch receiving recesses, andmeans for injecting compressed air through the pockets and recesses soas to remove the aggregate material and to produce a uniform stream ofmaterial flowing tothe source of utilization of the concrete. While themechanisms revealed in these prior disclosures have proven highlypractical and successfuliin actual commercial use, it has been foundrather difficult and tedious in larger units, to remove the heavymaterial supply hoppers, and

to properly replace the same so as to effectively seal the compressedair ducts and the measuring pockets of the main rotor. Then too, somedifliculty has been encountered in the matter of preventing grit fromentering the bearing of the auxiliary rotor driving shaft, and ingaining quick access to and avoiding excessive and undesirably rapidwear on other parts ofthe mechanism which are exposed to the advancingaggregate,

. but the principle of operation of the prior de- A f "rtner object ofthe invention is to provide an aggregate feeder adapted to automaticallydeliver a. continuous uniform stream of the material to places ofutilization, and wherein all parts are well protected against rapidwear, while also being readily accessible for inspection andreplacement. A Y

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improvedassemblage for constantly clelivering concrete aggregate to a cement gunor the like with the aid of compressed air, wherein the various bearingsare most effectively protected against entry of grit, and in which theair `ducts are thoroughly sealed at all times.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improvedportable concrete aggregate feed unit which is simple, compact anddurable in construction, and which is also highly eiiicient in operationand flexible in its adaptations.

The above and other more specific objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting my presentimprovement, and of the mode of constructing and of utilizing concreteaggregate feeders embodying the invention, may be had by referring t0the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specificationwherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts inthe various views.

Fig. 1 is a part sectional top view of the improved aggregate feedingunit looking into the material supply hopper and showing a plan View ofthe improved hopper supporting cradle, a transverse section having beentaken through the lower portion of the hopper Wall along the line l-I ofFig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary part sectional rear-elevation of the improvedassemblage, showing the auxiliary feed rotor and adjacent structure insection and the hopper cradle in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary part sectional side elevation of the samemechanism, showing the auX- iliary feed rotor and adjacent parts insection;

Fig. 4 is another fragmentary part sectional rear elevation of theassemblage, showing a part of the main measuring rotor and its drivingmechanism in section, and having the hopper cradle ring omitted;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the improved auxiliary feed rotor housingshowing a portion of the rotor confined therein; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a typical con` crete aggregate feedingunit completely assembled and ready for use.

While the improvements have been shown and described herein as beingadvantageously applicable to a particular type of aggregate feederespecially adapted for use in connection with cement guns, it is not myintention to unnecessarily restrict the utility of the invention byvirtue of this limited disclosure.

Referring to the drawings, the improved typical concrete aggregatefeeder unit specifically shown therein, comprises a portable truck 8having rear supporting wheels 3 and a front supporting prop IQ; anaggregate feeder mounted upon the rear portion of the truck framebetween the wheels 9 and having a material supply hopper I Icommunicable with a lower increment feed rotor I2 through an interveningmeasuring rotor I3; an internal combustion engine I4 or the like,mounted upon the truck frame between the rear wheels 9 and front prop I0and being drivingly connected to the rotors I2, I3 by means of clutchcontrolledshats', I respectively; andia compressed air line .I1communicating witha suitable .source of supply and being adapted tofur.- nish air. inregulated quantities to the feedpmechanism past amanually controlled valve I8.

The main rotor I3 is housed within a sturdy annular v.upright casingEiiwhich is rmlyrsecured to the upper deckZI of thetruck 8 by bolts 22,andwhich is also provided with an integral central bearing 23. and withdiametrically opposite integral external lugs 24, 25; and theauxiliaryfeed rotor I2 is .confined withina tubular horizontal casing 26 firmlysecured to the bottom of the casing and having opposite integral endflanges 2, 28.1 and an intermediateupwardly directed duct 29communicating with the lower interior of the casing 20, see Figs. 2, 3,4 and 5. The measuring rotor I3 is provided with an annular series ofupright cylindrical measuring pockets 3I A and is revolvable within themain casing 20 by means of a vertical central shaft 32 coacting with thebearing 23, and the lower extremity of this shaft 32 is drivinglyconnected to the main rotor-drive shaft I6 by a worm wheel 33 and a worm34 both of which are enclosed in a sealed housing 3b,V as shown in Fig.4. The increment and the front end of this shaft 3l is drivingly lconnected to the auxiliary rotor drive shaft I5 by means of a flexiblecoupling Y33 as shown in Fig. 3.

The Vmaterial supply hopperII- which is normally disposed above themeasuring rotor I3 ybut which should also be conveniently removable inorder to permit free access to the interior of the main casing 20,`consists primarily of an upperV screening section 4I, an intermediatebin section '42 and a base section 43, the latter having a diaphragm 44formed lintegral therewith and spanning the top of the rotor IS. Thisdiaphragm 44 is provided with a pair of hopper discharge openings 45which are registerable with the suc-` cessive 'advancing measuringpockets 3| as they revolve-about the axis of the shaft 32, and the 1periphery of the base `section 43 is provided with a pair ofdiametrically opposite-integral lugs 46 each of which has a pivotscrew-4l associated therewith, as illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3. A

relatively resilient but sturdy cradle ring 48 loosely surrounds thehopper base section 43 and has integral ears 49 with which the pivotscrews- 41 coact; and the ring 48 is also provided with an integraloutwardly projecting pivot 50 at one side and with an integral outwardlyprojecting manipulating handle 5I at its opposite side, both disposed atright angles to the common axis of the screws 47.

The side pivot 50 of the Cradle ring 48 is journalled in the medialportion of a block 52 having integral pivot pins 53 at the opposite endsthereof, and these alined pins 53 are journalled for oscillation inplates 54 rigidly secured to the opposite sides of the main casing lug24. These coasting elements provide a universal joint between the cradlering 48 and the casing 2U; and the manipulating handle 5I which isassociated with the ring 48 Vremote from this universal joint, isprovided with an enlarged hub portion 55 having a relatively largethrough opening adapted to loosely receive a stud 53 firmly secured tothe iixedly casing lug 25, and to be conned upon the stud by a thumb nut5'?, see Figs. l and 2. The improved hopper cradle thus provided,permits the hopper I to be either firmly held in normal active positionas shown in Fig. 6, or swung away from and toward the tops of the casing20 and main rotor I3 with the aid of the handle 5I Y when the clampingnut 5l is removed from-thev stud 5E; and the pivots 4?, 5t, 53 togetherwith the loose t between the hub 35 and stud 56 will obviously permitthe hopper-base 43m-automatically properly aline itself and conform tothe top of the main rotor I3 whenever the clamping nut 5'I is reappliedto the fixed Stud 56.

The base section 43 of the supply hopper I I is also provided with acompressed air duct 59 located remote from the aggregate deliveryopenings 45 and directed toward and into-the upper ends of thesuccessive advancing measuring pockets 3l formed of rubber and which isxedly secured to the bottom of the diaphragm 44, and compressed air fromthe supply line VI'i may be admitted to this duct 59 through a flexibletube 6I detachably secured to the base 43 by means of a yoke v62 andclamping screw S3, as depicted in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 6. The hopper basediaphragm 44 is moreover providedV with a central socket 64 which isadapted to coact with the upper extremity of the rotor shaft 32 abovethe rotor hub when the hopper II is in normalV position, andthe sealingdisc 6G which is attached to the diaphragm 44 has openings thereincorresponding to the feed openings 45. The top-of the main measuringrotor I3 is provided with a wear plate 65 forming an annular sealingridge adaptedto snugly engage the upper disc 6B, and the Vbottom of thisrotor I3 is also provided witha similar wear plate B forming an annularridge likewise adapted to snugly engage a lower rubber sealing disc 6lwhich is fixedly secured to the bottomof the main casing 2D and hasancpeningtherein driving shaft 3l' by means of a pin 'I0 piercing' thisshaft and coacting lwith notches in one 'end through an upper sealingdisc Ew of the auxiliary rotor core 1I, and a retaining screw 12coacting with the end of the shaft 31 and with the opposite end of thecore 1l through a clamping disc 13, as shown in Fig. 3. The bearing 38for the horizontal shaft 31 is snugly but removably confined within oneend of the tubular auxiliary casing 26 by capy screws 14 and is providedwith an air duct or passage 15 in its lower portion one end of whichcommunicates with the air supply line Il' through a pipe 13, and theopposite delivery end of which is communicable with the forward ends ofthe successive lowermost advancing recesses 35 of the revolving feedrotor I2. The bore of the bearing 33 is effectively sealed from theauxiliary rotor chamber by an improved packing 11 having two solid ringssnugly embracing the shaft 31 on opposite sides of a flexiblepacking'disc, each of the solid rings having a lateral annular grooveadjacent to the shaft periphery and facing the rotor I2, and thispacking 11 is protected and held in place by a disc 18. The opposite endof the tubular auxil-l iary casing 2G is provided with a closure fitting19 having a discharge passage for the aggregate stream formed in anintegral projection 83 thereof, and the outer end of this projection isprovided with screw threads 8| for effecting attachment of a hoseleading to the final cement gun or other source of utilization.

The casings 23, 25, bearing 38, main rotor I3, auxiliary rotor core 1I,and fitting 33 are formed primarily of durable metal, ,and in order toprotect the duct 29, rotor I2, and the fitting B against excessiveabrasion and wear due to the constant travel of the abrasive aggregatetherethrough, these parts are preferably provided with rubber liners orsurfaces. is formed as a rubber bushing which is stretched over the core1I, thus providing the feeding recesses 36 with wear resistant surfaces,and the casing duct 23 is provided with a rubber liner 82, while thefitting 83 is also provided with a rubber liner 83. These liners 82, 83cooperate with the sealing discs Si), 31 and with the auxiliary rotor toprovide wear resistant surfaces wherever exposed to high velocity now ofthe abrasive material, thus materially prolonging the life of the unitto a maximum, and the discharge passage formed in the fitting 19 ispreferably disposed in horizontal alinement with the air supply passage15 so that the successive revolving material lled l recesses 36 will beplaced in alinment with these passages as the rotor I2 is rotated, seeFigs. 3, 4 and 5.

During normal use of the improved concrete aggregate measuring andfeeding device, the portable unit, after having been properlyconstructed, assembled and provided with abundant lubrication wherevernecessary, may be readily transported from place to place and actuatedto accurately measure and to deliver a constant uniform stream ofaggregate through the discharge conduit of the tting 19 to the nal zoneor places of utilization, such as a spray gun or the like attached bymeans of a hose to the screw threads 8l. Such normal operation may beeffected by merely operating the engine I 4, throwing in the clutchmechanism with the aid of the lever 85 shown in Fig. 6, opening thecompressed air supply valve I8, and maintaining an abundant supply ofaggregate material within the hopper I I. When the measuring rotor I3 isconstantly rotated by its driving shaft I6, 32 through the worm gearing33, 34, the successive pockets 3| will be brought into opencommunication with The auxiliary rotor I2 the supply hopper Il throughthe arcuate openings 45 formed in the diaphragm 44 and in the uppersealing disc 60, and the pockets are then filled by gravity with equalbatches of material. As the successive pockets 3| are carried beyond theopenings 45, they are momentarily tightly sealed at both ends by theupper and lower rubber discs 60, 61, before being exposed to thecompressed air admission duct 59.

As soon as each ofthe previously filled pockets 3l is brought intocommunication with the compressed air duct 59 the measured batch ofmaterial is ejected downwardly therefrom by compressed air, and afterpassing through the rubber lined duct 29, increments of the measuredbatches.

of the material are removed from the descending charges and partiallyfill the relatively small and more rapidly revolving upper recesses 33of the feed rotor l2. Y The successive emptied pockets. 3! aresubsequently transported between the;

sealing discs 63, 51 toward the hopper openings 45 for refilling, andwhile the material laden recesses 33 of the auxiliary rotor i2 arebeing; carried toward their lowermost positions within the casing 26,the compressed air delivered from the passage 15 through the spacebetween the forward end of the feed rotor I2 and into the recesses 36,constantly tends to urge the increments of material toward the rear endsof these recesses. When the successive material laden recesses 36 arebrought into axial alinement with the air supply passage 15 and with thedischarge passage form-ed in the fitting 19, the increments of materialare quickly ejected longitudinally from the rotor recesses 33 and intothe discharge: passage, and the mixture of air and aggregate material isthereafter discharged in the form of.'

a constant and uniform stream of mixture to the zone of utilization.

'This normal operation of the mechanism ob viously continues as long asthe compressed air valve I3 remains open, and if it becomes desir ableto gain access to the internal mechanisms..

the clutch lever 85 should first be operated to.-

. I 2, it is only necessary to remove the fitting 19 by withdrawing theadjacent cap screw 1li, and the bearing 38 may likewise be readilyremoved from the opposite end of the auxiliary casing 26. The Wearplates 65, 68 may also be readily removed from the main body of therotor I3, thus making it possible to gain rapid and convenient access toall essential parts of the mechanism.

The improved cradle structurefor the hopper Il, also permits rapid andeffective replacement of the hopper Il to its normal position, andenables most efficient sealing of the air duct 59 and of the jointsbetween the rotor I3 and the adjacent sealing discs G0, 61. Such sealingof the parts may be effected by merely manipulating the thumb nut 51until the desired sealing pressure is obtained, and the improved packing11 for the shaft 31 and bearing 38 has proven highly eiective forthepurpose of preventing grit from entering the bearing surfaces of theshaft 31.c

Thehose 6| mayalso be readily connected-'to and* disconnected fromv theair supplyVv ductl withl the aid of the clamping-screw 63, thus providving a highly eiiicient unit in which allpart'saref convenientlyremovable and protected-*againstrapid wear.

ing unit which functions to automatically produce a constant uniformstream of the aggregatev and which is extrem-ely durable'in structure.The assemblage while being relatively compact has enormous capacity andperforms its intended function with minimum attention and with utmostreliability. The cradle Isupport for the agg eegate supply hopper Ii,besides permitting rapid access to the measuring pocket structure, alsoenables most eiiicient sealing of the measuring pockets and of the airducts, and the improved construction oi the auxiliaryrotor casing 2talso facilitates access to the rotor I2 and removal thereof. Theprovision of therenewable wear plates at the opposite ends of the mainrotor I3 not only facilitates initial machining and prolongs the life ofthis rotor; but the annular sealing ridges of these plates are alsoadapted to sink into the adjacent rubber sealing discs 6G, 6'! whenpressure is applied with the aid of the thumb nut l, thus insuringeffective sealing of the rotor i3 at all times and making it possible toreadily compensate for wear, The improved packing 77 effectivelyprotects the shaft bea-ring 38 against undesirable entry oi grit, andthe liners 82, i3 cooperate with the rubber rotor l2 to eliminateexcessive wear. The tubular formation of the auxiliary rotor casing 2Sith rigid flanges at its opposite ends and with the iitting '19 coactingwith one of these flanges closely adjacent to the rotor i2, also makesit possible to quickly inspect this rotor and to remove the same. Theimproved unit has gone into highly satisfactory and successfulcommercial use, and has eliminated many-of the slight difiicultiesencountered with similar mechanisms; and the assemblage may bemanufactured and sold at moderate cost.

it should be understood that it is not desired to limit this inventionto the exact details of construction or to the precise Imode of use,herein shown and described, or various modifications within the scope ofthe appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art; and it isalso intended that specific descriptive terms used herein be given thebroadest possible interpretation consistent with the rest of theinvention.

I claim:

i. In a measuring and feeding device, a casing having an upright bore, amaterial measuring rotor revolvable within said bore, a material supplyhopper for .directing material toward said rotor, a resilient sealclamped between said hopper and said rotor, a cradle ring surroundingsaid seal externally-of said hopper, alined pivots connecting oppositesides of said ring with said hopper to permit tilting of the hopper inone direction, a block member swingably connected to saidy casing remotefrom said alined pivots to also permit tiltingof said ring in saiddirection, and a pivot connecting said member and said ring for Y pivotsfor permitting tilting of the ring vand yhopper in a transversedirection.

ing having an upright'borefa material measu'r Tis ing-said` sealexternallyof said hopper,'alined pivotsconnecting'opposite sides of saidring with said' hopper" to permit tilting of the'hopper in onedirection,a block member 'swingably connected' to said casing remote from saidalinedA pivotsto also permit tilting of said ring in said direction, apivot connecting said member and said ring for permitting tilting of thering and hopper in a transverse direction, and means for varying thepositionof said ring to alter thev permit tilting of the hopper towardand away from the bore axis in one direction, a hinge connection betweensaid casing and said ring remote from said alined pivots for alsopermitting tilting of said ring in said direction, and a pivotconnecting said ring and said hinge connection for permitting tilting ofthe ring and' hopper in a transverse direction relative to said axis.

`4. In a measuring and feeding device, a casing having an upright bore,a material feeding rotor revolvable within said bore, a material supplyhopper for directing material toward said rotor, a resilient sealingdisc clamped between the bottom of said hopper and the top of saidrotor, a cradle ring surrounding said disc externally of said hopper,alined lpivots connecting opposite sides of said ring with said hopperto permit tilting of the hopper toward and away fromr the bore axis inone direction, a hinge connection between said casing and said ringremote from said alined pivots for also permitting tilting of said ringin said direction, a pivot connecting said ring and said hingeconnection for permitting tilting of the ring and hopper in a transversedirection relative to said axis, and means for swinging said ring aboutsaid connecting pivot to vary the clamping pressure between said hopperand said rotor.

5. In a measuring and feeding device, a casing having an upright'bore, amaterial feeding rotor revolvable within said bore, a materialsupplyhopper vhaving a bottom provided with an opening for directing materialtoward said rotor, a resilient sealing disc clamped between said hopperbottom and the top of said rotor, a cradle ring surrounding said' 'discexternally of saidhopper, alined pivots connecting opposite sides ofsaid ring with said hopper bottom to permit tilting of the hopperrelative to the ring in one direction, a hinge connection between saidcasing and'said ring remote from andfmid-way between said isopermittingtilting of said ring in said directon, and a pivot' pin connecting saidring and said hinge -connection for permitting tilting of the ring andhopper in a direction at right anglesV to said alined pivots.

n a measuring and feeding device, a casing having an upright bore,amaterial feeding rotor revolvable'pwithin said bore, a material supplyhopper having a 'bottom' provided with' an vopening 9 for directingmaterial toward said rotor, a resilient sealing disc clamped betweensaid hopper bottom and the top of said rotor, a cradle ring surroundingsaid disc externally of said hopper, alined pivots connecting oppositesides of said ring with said hopper bottom to permit tilting oi v thehopper relative to the ring in one direction, a

having an upright bore, a material measuring and feeding rotorrevolvable Within said bore, a niaterial supply hopper having a bottomprovided With an opening for directing material toward said rotor, aresilient seal clamped between said hopper bottom and the top of saidrotor, a cradle ring surrounding said disc externally of said hopper,pivots connecting the opposite sides of said ring with said hopper topermit tilting of the hopper relative to the ring in one direction, ablock having a hin-ge connection with said casing for also permittingtilting of the block in said direction, and a pivot pin connecting saidblocl to said ring remote from and mid-Way between said pivots forpermitting tilting of said ring in a direction at right angles to saidpivots.

8. In a measuring and feeding device, a casing having an upright bore, amaterial measuring and feeding rotor revolvable within said bore, amaterial supply hopper having a bottom provided with an opening fordirecting material toward said rotor, a resilient seal clamped betweensaid hopper bottom and the top of said rotor, a cradle ring surroundingsaid disc externally of said hopper, pivots connecting the oppositesides of said ring with said hopper to permit tilting of the hopperrelative to the ring in one direction, a block having a hinge connectionwith said casing for also permitting tilting of the block in saiddirection, a pivot pin connecting said block to said ring remote fromand mid-way between said pivots for permitting tilting of said ring in adirection at right angles to said pivots, and adjustable means ooactingwith said ring and said casing remote from said block for varying theclamping pressure on said seal.

RICHARD R. COLBURN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 719,237 Lindgren Jan. 27, 19031,001,367 Dennis Aug. 22, 1911 2,152,632 Cassiere Apr. 4, 1939 2,183,547Collier Dec. 19, 1939 2,299,565 Colburn Oct. 20, 1942 2,413,293 ColburnDeo. 31, 1946 2,417,700 McCarty Mar. 18, 1947

